Born in Buxton, Derbyshire, Cole grew up in nearby Chapel en le Frith and went to New Mills Grammar School. After failing in law at University College London, he later attended (but did not graduate from) the University of Glasgow where he studied philosophy and English and met the other members of band that would become The Commotions. Their 1984 debut, Rattlesnakes, contained numerous literary and pop culture references to figures like Norman Mailer, Grace Kelly, Eva Marie Saint, Truman Capote and Joan Didion. The group produced two more albums, Easy Pieces and Mainstream, before disbanding in 1989, when Cole re-located to New York to record with legendary musicians like Fred Maher and Robert Quine (as well as a then largely unknown Matthew Sweet).
This solo setting produced two acclaimed albums, Lloyd Cole in 1990 and 1991's Don't Get Weird on Me Babe. The latter was recorded in two parts: one side continued the New York rock mastered on his first solo album, while the other side featured a session orchestra, much in the style of Burt Bacharach or Scott Walker. Although some reviewers have claimed Don't Get Weird on Me Babe (the title being a quote from the American neo-realism poet Raymond Carver) to be a creative peak, it produced significantly lesser record sales, and the contract with Capitol Records ended.
Subsequently signed by Rykodisc, Cole continued redefining his sound with Bad Vibes (1993), a collaboration with producer/remixer Adam Peters using a harder, grunge and psychedelica inspired sound. Love Story (1995) established stripped-down, largely acoustic sound landscapes with the help of Stephen Street (famous for his work with Blur and The Smiths) and former Commotions Neil Clark and Blair Cowan; the album produced a minor hit with the song "Like Lovers Do".
In 2000, after years without a contract, Cole recorded a disc with the New York band The Negatives, featuring Jill Sobule and Dave Derby of the Dambuilders. He has since released solo albums on smaller independent labels. Sanctuary Records, the company responsible for the revival of Morrissey, released Music in a Foreign Language (2003) in the U.K. Recorded largely by Cole himself (including tracks recorded directly into a Mac), the songs had a stark, folk-inspired singer-songwriter style. One Little Indian, home of Björk, released Music in a Foreign Language in the U.S.; they also collected a number of outtakes (recorded from 1996 to 2000) on 2004's Etc. and released an instrumental ambient electronica album, Plastic Wood, the same year.
Cole continued to tour, playing intimate club venues in a one-man acoustic setting. In 2004, to mark the 20th anniversary of the release of Rattlesnakes, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions reformed to perform a one-off, sell-out tour in the U.K. and Ireland. An avid golfer, he is also known for playing concerts in towns suspiciously close to famous golf courses. He also shares a passion for this sport with Alice Cooper who is said to introduce the song "Only Women Bleed" claiming "not even Lloyd Cole has written a song about menstruation" when playing live.
Cole's album "Antidepressant" was released in 2006 featuring the former Commotions guitarist Neil Clark on some tracks.
The follow-up Broken Record, released in September 2010, marked a departure from his solo recordings, as it was performed by a band of longstanding friends and working partners, including Fred Maher, Joan Wasser, Rainy Orteca, Dave Derby and Blair Cowan – as well as two musicians, Matt Cullen (guitar; banjo) and Mark Schwaber (guitar; mandolin).
An album co-funded by fans, Standards, was released in June 2013.
A studio album – Guesswork – was released on July 26, 2019 by earMUSIC.
Weird On Me
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Swear i`d never try to turn your brown eyes blue
It's just that I haven`t got a taste for this whiskey
Maybe I`ve been missing someone like you
Maybe I've been tired, maybe I've been lonely
I've been lonely and blue
Maybe I've been missing someone like you
But I was only trying to be your friend
I swear I never try to mix things up again
Don't get weird on me babe
Billy says that you're wearing his ring now
He says it took away the sadness from your smile
I guess I`d tried hell if i`d only known how
I guess I learned when you walking down that isle
I guess that I`ll be sad babe and I`ll be lonely
I`ll be lonely and blue
Yes and I`ll be missing someone like you
Maybe I've been missing someone like you
But I was only trying to be your friend
Don't get weird on me babe
I swear I never try to mix things up again
Don't get weird on me babe
Was only trying to be your friend
And I was only trying to be your friend
Didn't mean to get you mad at me misty
Swear i`d never try and turn your brown eyes blue
It's just that I haven`t got a taste for this whiskey
Maybe I I`ve been missing someone like you
Maybe I've been tired, maybe I've been lonely
I've been lonely and blue
Yes and I've been missing someone like you
But I was only trying to be your friend
Don't get weird on me babe
I swear I never try to mix things up again
Don't get weird on me babe
Don't get weird on me babe
Don't get weird on me babe
Don't get weird on me
Lloyd Cole's song Weird On Me presents a regretful protagonist who did not intend to upset the song's addressee, Misty. The persona admits that he was missing someone like Misty, but he was only trying to be her friend. He apologizes for possibly getting her upset and swears that he would never intend to mix things up again. The song further reveals that Misty has started wearing Billy's ring, and this fact had made the persona sad and lonely. The persona admits that he has been lonely and blue and he has been missing someone like Misty.
The song touches on themes of unrequited love, missed opportunities, regret, and friendship. From the lyrics, it is evident that the persona has feelings for Misty, but he did not express them, and now she is with someone else. The singer confesses to being tired and lonely, but he only wanted to be Misty's friend, and he did not intend to upset her. Despite the singer's advances, Misty has started wearing Billy's ring, and this fact has made the persona sad and regretful. The repetition of the line "Don't get weird on me babe" seems like an attempt to preserve the friendship between the singer and Misty because he recognizes that he may have crossed a line, but he only meant well.
Line by Line Meaning
Didn't mean to get you mad at me misty
I didn't intend to make you angry, Misty.
Swear i`d never try to turn your brown eyes blue
I promise I wouldn't try to upset or hurt you.
It's just that I haven't got a taste for this whiskey
I simply don't like whiskey or the way it makes me feel.
Maybe I've been missing someone like you
Perhaps I've been feeling lonely and looking for someone like you in my life.
Maybe I've been tired, maybe I've been lonely
It's possible that I've been feeling exhausted and isolated lately.
I've been lonely and blue
I've been feeling sad and hopeless.
But I was only trying to be your friend
I was simply attempting to develop a platonic friendship with you.
Don't get weird on me babe
Please don't react negatively or unusually towards me, dear.
I swear I never try to mix things up again
I promise I won't cause any more trouble or confusion.
Billy says that you're wearing his ring now
Billy has told me that you are currently sporting a ring that is presumably from him.
He says it took away the sadness from your smile
According to Billy, wearing the ring has improved your mood and appearance to some degree.
I guess I'd tried hell if I'd only known how
If I had understood the potential benefits of Billy's ring, I would have attempted to get one for myself.
I guess I learned when you walking down that isle
I realized my mistake when I saw you walking down the aisle, presumably at your wedding to Billy.
Yes and I'll be missing someone like you
I will continue to feel a sense of loss or longing for someone like you in my life.
Was only trying to be your friend
Again, my intentions were solely focused on being a friend to you.
Don't get weird on me babe
I hope you won't react oddly or negatively to me.
Don't get weird on me babe
Once again, please don't act strangely towards me.
Don't get weird on me babe
Please don't take my actions or words the wrong way and react negatively.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LLOYD COLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind